Liquid crystal elastomers based upon cellulose derivatives

Abstract

Crosslinked networks displaying both thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystalline phases have been prepared from hydroxypropyl cellulose. The phase transitions from the liquid crystal to isotropic state are reversible for materials with moderate levels of crosslinking. These materials show characteristic optical textures similar to uncrosslinked cellulose-based liquid crystal polymers although well defined patterns typical of cholesteric structures were not observed. The samples were insoluble in water, but high levels of swelling with acetone and benzene were observed and in the steady state condition a lyotropic phase was present even though the level of swelling was in excess of 500%. A reversible liquid crystalline to isotropic phase was observed with the swollen materials as the fraction of swellant was adjusted. The elastomers show marked global orientation effects when mechanically deformed but surprisingly the response was less dramatic than in some side-chain liquid crystal elastomers.